As a gentleman Golden, it’s a topic I’m generally loathe to speak of, but Bob Barker was right – two-leggeds do need to spay and neuter their four-legged friends. My younger brother, Friday, was recently up at bat, so to speak. He managed like a champ, surely in large part due to my steadfast attachment at his side afterwards. Been there, done that, and I was happy to help in his recovery!
A Dog’s Life
You might have noticed that Murphy, our golden retriever, has been slack on his blogging duties lately! Normally, Murphy recounts all things four-legged for us in weekly posts. But it’s summertime, and that means there’s lots of dips in the ocean to be had, lots of visiting puppies to play with (since we are pet-friendly at Ocean Delight), lots of barbecues around which to stay alert for scraps! So, we’ll forgive him for letting his social media duties slide – when you see him and his brother, Friday, so happy playing fetch (which is serious business for a retriever!) how could we not?
Tuesdays with Murphy: Shag It!
It’s getting nicer, but we’re still waiting for that hot summer weather to kick in. And of course. the Atlantic Ocean is cold any time of the year up here in Newfoundland. So you might think dogs would eschew playing fetch in the chilly water these days, and you’d be right – some dogs might. But Friday and I have warm coats and warm blood, descended as we are from the Newfoundland and the archaic St. John’s dogs. So when Jerry throws us some sticks, there’s only one response – Shag It, and jump in!
Tuesdays with Murphy: Sharing is Caring!
It’s muddy this time of year, but Jerry is indulgent and knows how much Friday and I enjoy our little dips. So this weekend he took us to play fetch in this swimming hole near the cottages (remember, pets are welcome with us, for a small fee – maybe yours want to come play with us this summer!). Being the big brother, I was happy to share our stick – for a little while. But of course, I had to claim something for my own before the day was done!
Tuesdays with Murphy: Bon Voyage Berry!
The Berry works so hard, so it’s hard to be selfish – she deserves a trip to Ontario to visit her family. But who will we snuggle with on lazy Sunday afternoons? Or any day for that matter? We’ll be quite sad without her these next few weeks, we’re sure, but we wish her a fabulous vacation filled with lots of love and relaxation. And we’ll be waiting with open paws when she gets back!
Tuesdays with Murphy: St Paddy’s Hangover
I don’t think Jerry and The Berry enjoyed too many St. Paddy’s Day libations yesterday, but it’s no fun putting away the green and revelry. So today’s blog falls on a bit of a holiday hangover. Always one to get in on the fun, Jerry dressed accordingly yesterday (reportedly down to his skivvies, though you’d have to follow us on Twitter to find proof of that!). And, as we like to say in Newfoundland, we had a time!
Afternoon Walk
Here’s some shots from a rare afternoon off, when The Berry and I went for a drive to Salmon Cove, goldens in tow. Less than a half hour drive from the cottages, it’s quite the spot! It has a beautiful park, sandy beaches, beautiful scenery, a great trail and the perfect spot for picnics – summer is going to be great!
The dogs loved the beach and water, met new friends and played to exhaustion. And we were refreshed, pulled back from the brink of exhaustion, and reminded again of how lucky we are to live on the beautiful Baccalieu Trail. For more pictures of this beautiful spot, please see the album on our Facebook page. 
Tuesdays with Murphy: Who’s Who?
The best days are hike days, especially since we have so many beautiful walking trails around the cottages to explore. This lucky day, we had not one but two humans to accompany us. Not very often you get these two not-working at the same time! 
Tuesdays with Murphy: Life Lesson
Here’s a life lesson about persistence, patience, forgiveness and love. You may remember that when Molly, our Devon Rex four-legged, joined our Ocean Delight family, I was actually frightened of her, despite our size difference. She came to us fearful, with some sadness in her past, and she did not take to me one bit – in fact, she did quite the opposite, often scratching and biting without justification. But I never gave up hope of a relationship, and I never responded with anything but grace and kindness. And now – this photo says it all. We’ve become cuddle buddies, keeping each other warm in this cold winter. I feel truly blessed!
Tuesdays with Murphy: Winter Walk
There’s always lots to do for fun around the cottages. A little snow doesn’t hurt the great walking trails, especially on a sunny day. Especially when you have a great group to do it with. For me, that means Jerry and The Berry, of course, and also my new brother, Friday. The two-leggeds have to bundle up, of course, but for Friday and me, a little exercise and we’re warm as anything. Don’t we strike a handsome pair bounding down the lane?